National Professional Officers (Outbreak and Emergencies) at the World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: National Professional Officer (Outbreak and Emergencies)

Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/16/FT91
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: NO-C
Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment
Duration of contract: One (01) Year
Organization unit: AF_WSR AF West Sub-Region (AF_WSR) /
AF_NGA Nigeria (AF_NGA)

Objectives of the Programme

• Improve national capacity to enhance health emergency preparedness and response
• Strengthen capacity for health sector coordination at national and sub-national levels
• Increase capacity for assessment, surveillance, monitoring, prevention and control of communicable diseases in humanitarian emergencies.
• Increase capacity for policy dialogue and partnerships for multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach to health emergency response
• Increase capacity for preparedness planning and disaster risk management

Description of Duties
Working under the overall leadership of the WR/Nigeria and the direct supervision of the DPC Cluster lead, the National Professional Officer, Health Emergencies will serve as the focal person for Health Emergencies under the Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster of the WHO Country Office in Nigeria. Specifically, the post holder will:

Terms of Reference (TOR):

• Support national capacity strengthening to enhance health emergency response and coordination at all levels
• Promote and monitor the application of standards and best practices in line with WHO guidelines during health emergencies
• Liaise, collaborate and maintain regular working relationships with concerned technical units/departments in the FMOH, donor agencies and other stakeholders (UN and non-UN) with a view to facilitating the implementation of health emergency preparedness and response
• Support health sector coordination at all levels and forge partnerships to promote health intervention to affected population
• Provide technical support to national and state authorities in the development of Response Plans and implementation of activities related to health emergencies
• Support data collection and documentation, including technical and administrative reports of health emergencies at all levels and ensure regular dissemination to all partners and stakeholders
• Provide technical support to government and communities for assessment, surveillance, monitoring, prevention and control of communicable diseases in humanitarian emergencies.
• Support mobilization of resources for implementation of humanitarian response plans.
• Undertake any other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Essential: Medical Degree (MB,BS) from a recognized University
• Desirable: Master of Public Health from a recognized University

Verification of Educational qualifications:

• "In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.
• WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/ Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually".

Experience:

• Essential: At least 5 years working experience in Health emergency preparedness and response.
• Desirable: Working experience in related areas with WHO, other UN agencies or other recognized international organizations

Skills:

• Demonstrated innovative, analytical and problem- solving skills; coordination, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to lead policy level dialogue, advocacy and partnerships on health emergency preparedness and response
• Producing results (core)
• Fostering integration and team work (core)
• Communicating in a credible and effectively way (core)
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Computer abilities such as word processing, spread-sheets; data analysis tool such as Epi-Info, SPSS, GIS and excellent report writing skills

Additional Information

• WHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave.

Application Closing Date
29th February, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
• Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.